Palace cites 'prudence' behind silence on coco levy case

Malacañang cited "prudence" as the reason for its silence on a Supreme Court decision clearing businessman Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco Jr. of charges that his 20-percent interest in San Miguel Corp. was acquired through the use of coco levy funds. Presidential deputy spokeswoman Abigail Valte on Saturday said it "shouldn't be taken against us [that] we want to be prudent before addressing a particular issue." Last Thursday, Sen. Joker Arroyo chided the Aquino administration for its silence on the High Court's decision. Valte said President Benigno Aquino III has already ordered his lawyers to study the decision, which involves "very complicated" issues. The case is more than 20 years old and has taken so many twists and turns, she said. "No one can give an intelligent comment on such short notice." Valte pointed out: "Hindi simpleng kaso ang nangyari kay Mr. Cojuangco. Ka-edad ko ang kasong ito at maraming detalye na kailangang pag-aralan bago magbigay ng intelihenting kumento." She, however, took a dig at Arroyo for demanding a quick answer from the Palace. Last year, Arroyo scored the Palace for running the government like a "student council", deploring its top officials' "hits and misses." Arroyo criticized the Aquino administration again last Friday for possibly taking the SC ruling "very lightly." He pointed out that the Aquino administration was never shy of lambasting the High Tribunal in its previous decisions that seemed adverse to them. Malacañang's stance apparently changed after the High Court favored the President's maternal uncle, according to Arroyo. "This is the first time that the Supreme Court made a decision [against them] and they are quiet. They are not aggrieved," he said. "The government is taking this very lightly. What is involved is P84 billion," he added. But Valte said the case is not something the Palace can give a quick comment on. "Hindi basta-basta. Kailangan talagang bigyan ng pag-aaral." — JE/TJD, GMA News